Last Updated: Q1 2026. Updated quarterly to reflect current pricing and features.
Usually it’s this:
You’re three years into a Mindbody subscription.
You’re paying $300-$500+ per month.
And you’re quietly wondering whether that’s still justified.
That’s a reasonable question.
Mindbody has been around since 2001. It powers over 60,000 businesses globally. It became the default for a reason.
But the fitness software market in 2026 is very different from 2016. And many independent gyms are reassessing what they actually need, and what they’re actually paying for.
Here’s a clear breakdown.
The Short Version
If you want the quick answer:
- Mindbody is a mature, enterprise-grade platform built for large studios, wellness brands, and multi-location businesses. It’s powerful, but expensive and complex.
- Recess is a modern, all-in-one gym management platform that’s free for gym owners. It covers scheduling, memberships, billing, communication, reporting, and more, without subscription fees.
Now let’s look at the details.
Pricing: What It Actually Costs
For most gym owners, this is where the decision starts.
Mindbody Pricing (2026)
Mindbody operates on tiered plans (Starter, Accelerate, Ultimate, Ultimate Plus).
As of Q1 2026, public pricing ranges roughly from:
- $169/month to $699/month
That does not include:
- Payment processing fees
- Additional marketing features
- Branded app fees
- App marketplace transaction cuts
The total cost of ownership is often significantly higher than the base plan.
Mindbody pricing does not adjust for:
- Studio size
- Modality
- Revenue level
A 30-member Pilates studio and a 400-member CrossFit gym can pay similar plan rates.
Recess Pricing
Recess is free for gym owners.
Not a trial.
Not capped at 50 members.
No tier upgrades.
No per-user fees.
Unlimited members and locations (US).
Recess generates revenue through a small, transparent platform fee at checkout. That model means:
- Gym owners don’t carry a monthly subscription
- There are no member caps
- Pricing doesn’t increase as you grow
For many studios, the difference between $0/month and $300+/month is meaningful capital.
Feature Comparison: What You Use vs What You Pay For
Both platforms cover the fundamentals:
- Class scheduling
- Membership management
- Billing
- Check-ins
- Reporting
- Member mobile access
The differences come down to depth, complexity, and cost.
Where Mindbody Is Strong
Mindbody’s biggest advantages:
- Large consumer marketplace (millions of users browsing monthly)
- Deep third-party integrations
- Advanced marketing automation
- Enterprise-level reporting
If you rely on marketplace discovery or operate at multi-location scale, this ecosystem can be valuable.
What Recess Includes (Out of the Box)
Recess consolidates a wide range of tools into one platform:
Scheduling
Classes, appointments, events, courses, retreats, challenges
- Waitlists and late cancel logic
- Recurring programming
- Trainer calendars
Payments & Billing
- Memberships and packs
- Freeze logic
- Gifting
- POS and front desk tools
- Self check-in
Communication & Marketing
- Email and SMS campaigns
- Win-back automations
- Lead funnels
- Two-way messaging
- Unified inbox
Lead Management
- Capture forms
- Automated nurture sequences
- Full CRM-style pipeline
Virtual & On-Demand
- Zoom integration
- Auto-record + upload
- Unlimited video storage
Staff Tools
- Payroll
- Staff permissions
- Substitution management
- Internal team communication
Reporting
- Retention
- Cohort analysis
- Class economics
- Revenue analytics
Many gyms moving from Mindbody find they consolidate multiple tools (Mailchimp, Twilio, separate CRM, etc.) into one system.
Ease of Use: The Overlooked Factor
This matters more than feature lists.
Mindbody
- Powerful
- Highly configurable
- Steeper learning curve
- Longer setup timelines
- Frequently cited support delays
For larger teams with admin staff, this can be manageable.
For smaller gyms, the complexity can become friction.
Recess
- Faster onboarding
- White-glove data migration
- Modern interface
- Lower training burden
- Support team consistently rated highly
Most owners report setup measured in days, not months.
Who Should Choose Mindbody?
Mindbody makes sense if you:
- Operate a large, multi-location wellness brand
- Need advanced enterprise integrations
- Rely on marketplace discovery
- Have dedicated admin resources
Its depth is valuable when fully utilised.
Who Should Choose Recess?
Recess is typically a better fit for:
- Independent gyms
- Boutique studios
- CrossFit boxes
- Martial arts schools
- Pilates, yoga, barre, boxing studios
- US-based multi-location operators
If you want professional-grade tools without enterprise pricing, Recess removes the subscription burden.
Migration: The Concern Most Owners Have
The biggest hesitation when leaving Mindbody is data migration.
Recess handles:
- Historical member records
- Billing data
- Scheduling structures
The transition is managed by the Recess team to minimise disruption.
For many gym owners, the migration fear turns out to be smaller than expected.
Recess vs Mindbody (2026): Side-by-Side
Pricing as of Q1 2026.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a universal “best” gym software.
There’s the right platform for:
- Your size
- Your budget
- Your growth stage
- Your tolerance for complexity
Mindbody remains a strong enterprise system.
Recess offers a full-featured alternative without subscription costs, which changes the math for independent gyms significantly.
If you’re paying several hundred dollars a month and unsure what you’re getting in return, it’s worth running a side-by-side evaluation.
Book a demo. Test the experience. Compare the real cost.
Worst case: you confirm Mindbody is still right for you.
Best case: you find out there’s a simpler option.
Have a question about switching from Mindbody or ready to see Recess in action? Book a free demo →
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